Cole capture shows Liverpool ´mean business´

The capture of England midfielder Joe Cole shows Liverpool mean business, defender Jamie Carragher warned the club’s Premier League rivals on Tuesday.

Former Chelsea midfielder Cole agreed terms on a four-year contract on Monday and has flown to Liverpool’s Switzerland training camp for a medical.

Carragher believes the signing of his England team-mate Cole proves fears that Liverpool, with no Champions League action to look forward to, would struggle to attract top-quality signings, are unfounded.

“It’s great news and it is a message that Liverpool mean business,” said the 32-year-old Carragher.

He added: “We have signed a top international player who has been really important for Chelsea.

“A lot of clubs wanted to sign him but it is a real coup that he has chosen to come here and you have got to give the manager and the board a pat on the back for convincing him to come here.

“Every supporter that I have spoken to is absolutely delighted and all the players are the same – it’s given everyone a boost, just at the right time.

“It has been a long summer and we have been in a transitional period but now the World Cup is out of the way, we can start to look forward again.

“The fact we have got him has given everyone a boost around the city. It’s good news again and, hopefully, there will be more to come. It’s the kind of signing that we needed to make.”

Carragher returns to Melwood Tuesday with fellow England internationals Steven Gerrard and Glen Johnson to begin pre-season training after a three-week rest.

Liverpool disappointed last season, finishing seventh.